Steve Smith barred from playing in Bangladesh Premier League

Smith had signed up with Comilla Victorians and was due to feature in the tournament, which is scheduled to get under way on January 5, from its midway point

Former Australia captain Steve Smith has been banned from playing in next year's Bangladesh Premier League.

Smith had signed up with Comilla Victorians and was due to feature in the tournament, which is scheduled to get under way on January 5, from its midway point.

However, following a series of objections by other competing franchises, the BPL organisers have moved to prevent the batsman from taking part.

"The rule of the tournament is that if a franchise takes a replacement, his name should be in the list of initial players' draft. But Smith's name was not there," Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nizamuddin Chowdhury said.

"Some franchises raised objection about it. So we have to bar him from playing the BPL." 

Meanwhile, Smith will this week answer the media's questions for the first time since March, when he addresses reporters at a press conference in Syndey.

The event follows the release of a Vodafone advert in which he talks about the impact of his ball-tampering ban.

"I was in a pretty dark space ... I've certainly had some difficult days," Smith said in the ad.

"But it's OK to be vulnerable. Everyone makes mistakes.

"It's about the way you respond to it that's really important. I want to come back better than I was."

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